Judge Gently
Pray, don’t find fault with the man who limps
or stumbles along the road,
unless you have worn the shoes he wears
or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
though hidden away from view,
or the burden he bears, placed on your back
might cause you to stumble too.
Don’t sneer at the man who’s down today
unless you have felt the blow
that caused his fall or felt the shame
that only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows
that were his if dealt to you,
in the selfsame way, at the selfsame time,
might cause you to stagger too.
Don’t be too harsh with the man who sins
or pelt him with word or stone,
unless you are sure, yea, doubly sure,
that you have no sins of your own -
For you know perhaps if the tempter’s voice
should whisper as softly to you
as it did to him when he went astray,
it might cause you to stumble too.
by Author Unknown
Image shown is the oil-on-canvas painting, “Down on His Luck” (1889) by artist Frederick McCubbin, depicting an Australian swagman, or itinerant worker, sitting by a campfire contemplating his life circumstances. According to an 1889 review, “The face tells of hardships, keen and blighting in their influence, but there is a nonchalant and slightly cynical expression, which proclaims the absence of all self-pity.” The artist’s model was Louis Abrahams, who was an unsuccessful gold prospector and a friend of the artist. The work is in the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth.
Pray, don’t find fault with the man who limps
or stumbles along the road,
unless you have worn the shoes he wears
or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
though hidden away from view,
or the burden he bears, placed on your back
might cause you to stumble too.
Don’t sneer at the man who’s down today
unless you have felt the blow
that caused his fall or felt the shame
that only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows
that were his if dealt to you,
in the selfsame way, at the selfsame time,
might cause you to stagger too.
Don’t be too harsh with the man who sins
or pelt him with word or stone,
unless you are sure, yea, doubly sure,
that you have no sins of your own -
For you know perhaps if the tempter’s voice
should whisper as softly to you
as it did to him when he went astray,
it might cause you to stumble too.
by Author Unknown
Image shown is the oil-on-canvas painting, “Down on His Luck” (1889) by artist Frederick McCubbin, depicting an Australian swagman, or itinerant worker, sitting by a campfire contemplating his life circumstances. According to an 1889 review, “The face tells of hardships, keen and blighting in their influence, but there is a nonchalant and slightly cynical expression, which proclaims the absence of all self-pity.” The artist’s model was Louis Abrahams, who was an unsuccessful gold prospector and a friend of the artist. The work is in the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth.
